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Jul 6, 2011
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i just returned from a trip to afghanistan. i cannot describe how impressed i am with the commitment, the dedication and the work carried out every single day by our men and women in uniform and those in the civilian services. i met and spoke with them in kabul, bases and air force bases and small villages. quite simply, they are incredible. but over and over and over again, i heard the same message, this is not sustainable. the strategy that we are pursuing in afghanistan is not sustainable and it is costing us too much in human lives and financial resources to continue. it can't continue for another 18 months as called for by the president, let alone even longer. i stand here tonight more convinced than ever that it is time to forge a new path, a new strategy, built upon past and present accomplishments and more aggressively focused on reducing the military footprint in afghanistan than the plan described by the president last month, accelerating the transition of combat operations and intense international and regional effor
i just returned from a trip to afghanistan. i cannot describe how impressed i am with the commitment, the dedication and the work carried out every single day by our men and women in uniform and those in the civilian services. i met and spoke with them in kabul, bases and air force bases and small villages. quite simply, they are incredible. but over and over and over again, i heard the same message, this is not sustainable. the strategy that we are pursuing in afghanistan is not sustainable...
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Jul 4, 2011
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army in afghanistan. it is his fourth visit to the country. he spent time with the 4th airbourne, patrolling in remote areas and engaging the security situation. obama announced a plan to bring 10,000 troops home from afghanistan by the end of the year. >> it depends on where you are. my experience is in the east. i have a little experience in the south. in the south, there is a lot of open combat. this is the headquarters of the taliban. >> in the east the violence depends on where you are. these to have strong relationships with kabul, with a lot of traffic. today, these are what i call, bombing galleries, where the coalition troops and a large coalition presence is trying very hard to like this town in order to protect this. but every step that they take, they are threatened. thousands every year, that are killing hundreds of native troops, and many times the number of afghans. as we move closer to the border, and you had se, the threat will change. this is not so much ied's because there is less vehicle traffic. the coalition soldiers and
army in afghanistan. it is his fourth visit to the country. he spent time with the 4th airbourne, patrolling in remote areas and engaging the security situation. obama announced a plan to bring 10,000 troops home from afghanistan by the end of the year. >> it depends on where you are. my experience is in the east. i have a little experience in the south. in the south, there is a lot of open combat. this is the headquarters of the taliban. >> in the east the violence depends on where...
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Jul 13, 2011
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policy in afghanistan. but for good that, we want and let you know that yesterday president obama presented the medal of honor -- honor to sgt petry. he presented it to him tuesday for seizing all live grenade in attempting to hurl it away from his men during a firefight in afghanistan. an act that the military says save the lives of two other army rangers. in the ceremony, the president speaks to the very essence of america, and no matter how hard the journey, no matter hard to climb, we do not quit, we do not give up. this is more from the sergeant talking about his particular efforts in afghanistan, in pakistan rather. >> today we honor a singular act of gallantry. as we near the 10th anniversary of the attacks thrust our nation into war, it is the occasion to pay tribute to a soldier and a generation that has borne the burden of our security during a hard decade of sacrifice. i want to take you back to the circumstances that led to this day. it is may 26, 2008. in the remote eastern afghanistan, near th
policy in afghanistan. but for good that, we want and let you know that yesterday president obama presented the medal of honor -- honor to sgt petry. he presented it to him tuesday for seizing all live grenade in attempting to hurl it away from his men during a firefight in afghanistan. an act that the military says save the lives of two other army rangers. in the ceremony, the president speaks to the very essence of america, and no matter how hard the journey, no matter hard to climb, we do...
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Jul 4, 2011
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troops in southern afghanistan. after that, republican congressman thaddeus mccotter announces his candidacy for the president next, prime minister's questions from the british house of commons. this week, prime minister david cameron defended his government's plans for reforming the health plan. tax breaks for individuals to choose private health plans. >> questions for the prime minister. >> thank you, mr. speaker. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others and in addition to my duties in the house, i shall have further such meetings later in the day. >> what does my friends say to the teachers who are putting the education of the children first by not striking tomorrow? >> i would congratulate them for doing the right thing and for doing the right thing and for
troops in southern afghanistan. after that, republican congressman thaddeus mccotter announces his candidacy for the president next, prime minister's questions from the british house of commons. this week, prime minister david cameron defended his government's plans for reforming the health plan. tax breaks for individuals to choose private health plans. >> questions for the prime minister. >> thank you, mr. speaker. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others...
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Jul 13, 2011
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this past year he returned to afghanistan, his eighth deployment. back on another mission to keep our country saves. this is the stuff of which heroes are made. this is the strength, the devotion that makes our troops to the pride of every american, and this is reason america does not simply endure. reemerge from our trials stronger, more confident, wason our eyes fixed on the future -- with our eyes fixed on the future. our heroes are all around us, and please join me in saluting one of those heroes -- and leroy petrie. [applause] >> the president of the united states of america, authorized by act of congress, march 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of congress, the medal of honor to leroy petrie. leroy peachtree distinguished himself at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in afghanistan on may 26, 2008. as a weapons squad leader with else the company's 75th ranger regiment, he moved to clear the courtyard of the house a potentially contained combatants. while crossing the courtyard, they were wounded by automatic weapons fire. st
this past year he returned to afghanistan, his eighth deployment. back on another mission to keep our country saves. this is the stuff of which heroes are made. this is the strength, the devotion that makes our troops to the pride of every american, and this is reason america does not simply endure. reemerge from our trials stronger, more confident, wason our eyes fixed on the future -- with our eyes fixed on the future. our heroes are all around us, and please join me in saluting one of those...
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Jul 27, 2011
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the cost of the war in iraq and afghanistan. it this far outpaces anything. just the war costs in the tax cuts alone, what day account for are the debt. the way you get out of this debt is to pile all of this burden on middle income families and senior citizens. they're the most vulnerable. it is just plain wrong. this is outrageous. ..will close with this bi the house of riverses appears to be here. president obama has put a lot on the table. he put some that makes me very uncomfortable. he has gone the extra mile by any objective analysis. we're close to this deadline. these are something that does not recommend a conference bridge a compromise. it was right off a cliff ticket we should not be doing this. we should be finding ways to come together. let's move on. i regret that we are here. we do not even know what the you're going to bring to the floor. i've never experienced a thing like this before. i regret that we are here. i thank you very much for being here. i wish your counterpart were here. >> thank you. >> thank you very much. how many hearings ha
the cost of the war in iraq and afghanistan. it this far outpaces anything. just the war costs in the tax cuts alone, what day account for are the debt. the way you get out of this debt is to pile all of this burden on middle income families and senior citizens. they're the most vulnerable. it is just plain wrong. this is outrageous. ..will close with this bi the house of riverses appears to be here. president obama has put a lot on the table. he put some that makes me very uncomfortable. he...
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Jul 3, 2011
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what happens in afghanistan is irrelevant. the only thing that matters is what obama appeals will be best for his reelection campaign. guest: when it comes down to the commander in chief, he is the one that dictates orders for the military. we have been in afghanistan for almost a decade and next year will be over a decade. when it comes down to it, if president obama says that we need to be out of there now, regardless of what is going on on the ground, that is totally acceptable there will never be of point where afghanistan is where we wanted to be. -- want it to be. i think he has done the responsible thing and left. host: last call for our round table. caller: i have two comments. the gop has had one agenda only since 2009 -- to defeat president obama in 2020. even if it means bringing thought only the country but perhaps the world to financial disaster. my second comment is regarding the corporate jets. $2 billion here and $2 billion there, it had sought ultimately. -- it adds up ultimately. our ideology straight. guest:
what happens in afghanistan is irrelevant. the only thing that matters is what obama appeals will be best for his reelection campaign. guest: when it comes down to the commander in chief, he is the one that dictates orders for the military. we have been in afghanistan for almost a decade and next year will be over a decade. when it comes down to it, if president obama says that we need to be out of there now, regardless of what is going on on the ground, that is totally acceptable there will...
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Jul 3, 2011
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i think the caller is right certainly in the case of pakistan and afghanistan. the united states lost sight of the importance of the region after the soviet the feet. certainly, i would hope there would be a sustained engagement that would be based on mutual respect and upon the principles that we mentioned earlier. with regards to what he mentioned about dealings in pakistan and elsewhere towards the united states, people in the middle east largely very much admire the united states for its educational institutions, the level of economic development, the basic rule of law, and so on. they were to come here, a study here, emigrate here, but there critical of some american policies. that is really the issue. we know what those policies are. host: last couple of calls. bloomington, illinois. caller: first of all, i just want to respond to the caller that the military saved muslims in southeast europe in kosovo. here is my question regarding europe. are there any elements in the arab spring in north africa that wants to integrate with europe? maybe in the future jo
i think the caller is right certainly in the case of pakistan and afghanistan. the united states lost sight of the importance of the region after the soviet the feet. certainly, i would hope there would be a sustained engagement that would be based on mutual respect and upon the principles that we mentioned earlier. with regards to what he mentioned about dealings in pakistan and elsewhere towards the united states, people in the middle east largely very much admire the united states for its...
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Jul 4, 2011
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troops in southern afghanistan. after that, republican congressman thaddeus macarthur of michigan announces his -- mccotter announces his candidacy for the president. an analysis of american attitudes about patriotism. the recent "christian science monitor" article about whether the military has a purpose. and the battleground in early primary states for campaign 2012, and the strategies for candidates. "washington donald -- journal," on c-span. [unintelligible] >> roger, discovery. >> on schedule for the final mission of the special program this friday, the launch of the atlantis. look back on the program,
troops in southern afghanistan. after that, republican congressman thaddeus macarthur of michigan announces his -- mccotter announces his candidacy for the president. an analysis of american attitudes about patriotism. the recent "christian science monitor" article about whether the military has a purpose. and the battleground in early primary states for campaign 2012, and the strategies for candidates. "washington donald -- journal," on c-span. [unintelligible] >>...
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Jul 7, 2011
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is the afghanistan central government introducing the rule of law? have we not already defeated al qaeda? and so who are we fighting and why? for $10 billion a month, mr. speaker, our expectations as taxpayers, as americans, as members of congress should be high. is it too much to think that $10 billion a month to buy a stable ally, ally capable of standing on its own two feet, taking responsibility for its own security and having respect for the rule of law? instead, corruption and chaos are ruling the day in kabul. basic government institutions are failing to provide services. president karzai has tried to establish a special court, in fact, for the purpose of stripping 62 members of parliament of their seats and the financial system is teetering on the brink of collapse. with the head of the central bank fleeing the country and accusing karzai's regime of fraud and cronism. just a few days ago, mr. speaker, a brawl broke out on the floor of the afghanistan parliament with one member throwing a shoe at another member when a motion was proposed to i
is the afghanistan central government introducing the rule of law? have we not already defeated al qaeda? and so who are we fighting and why? for $10 billion a month, mr. speaker, our expectations as taxpayers, as americans, as members of congress should be high. is it too much to think that $10 billion a month to buy a stable ally, ally capable of standing on its own two feet, taking responsibility for its own security and having respect for the rule of law? instead, corruption and chaos are...
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Jul 4, 2011
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what happens in afghanistan is irrelevant. the only thing that matters is what obama appeals will be best for his reelection campaign. guest: when it comes down to the commander in chief, he is the one that dictates orders for the military. we have been in afghanistan for almost a decade and next year will be over a decade. when it comes down to it, if president obama says that we need to be out of there now, regardless of what is going on on the ground, that is totally acceptable there will never be of point where afghanistan is where we wanted to be. -- want it to be. i think he has done the responsible thing and left. host: last call for our round table. caller: i have two comments. the gop has had one agenda only since 2009 -- to defeat president obama in 2020. even if it means bringing thought only the coury but rhaps the world to financial disaster. my second comment is regarding the corporate jets. $2 billion here and $2 billion there, it had sought ultimately. -- it adds up ultimately. our ideology straight. guest: i r
what happens in afghanistan is irrelevant. the only thing that matters is what obama appeals will be best for his reelection campaign. guest: when it comes down to the commander in chief, he is the one that dictates orders for the military. we have been in afghanistan for almost a decade and next year will be over a decade. when it comes down to it, if president obama says that we need to be out of there now, regardless of what is going on on the ground, that is totally acceptable there will...
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Jul 27, 2011
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the ryan budget contained a $1 trillion in savings winding down the wars in iraq and afghanistan. majority leader kantor acknowledged the ryan budget counted toward deficit reduction. drawing down the troops would save more than $1 trillion over 10 years. we have given them everything they asked for. $2.70 trillion, dollar for dollar, there is no revenue. [unintelligible] in my caucus, somebody had an ipad and they read it today. the rating agencies are very nervous. there was a congressional hearing today. i do not have that, but the person testifying today said the one thing the markets demand is starting tond debate this thing again in a few weeks is not a certainty. [unintelligible] excellent question. we tried our best to have a trigger with some of the stuff that president obama worked on with republicans. they worked on the trigger. they could never get there because it would be so unfair if the committee did not arrive at a positive conclusion that the trigger would be all costs. that is really unfair. we cannot get from here to there after having already put to put $7 tri
the ryan budget contained a $1 trillion in savings winding down the wars in iraq and afghanistan. majority leader kantor acknowledged the ryan budget counted toward deficit reduction. drawing down the troops would save more than $1 trillion over 10 years. we have given them everything they asked for. $2.70 trillion, dollar for dollar, there is no revenue. [unintelligible] in my caucus, somebody had an ipad and they read it today. the rating agencies are very nervous. there was a congressional...
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Jul 10, 2011
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afghanistan. george afghanistan. george bush left office, he left a deficit of under $1 trillion. that is an obama stimulus package for one year and that was enough to hold us in iraq and afghanistan for seven years. host: let's go to a democratic caller in brooklyn, new york. caller in brooklyn, new york. caller: i think the numbers of the other caller are totally false. obama should keep his footing in this situation. the republicans say they will walk away and limit the amount of money but they will talk about that is on the table is preposterous. it is showing that they are scared and they are finally realizing that obama has an understanding of the economy and he has an understanding and backing of the people. right now is the time to change the way we need to move forward in terms of fiscal responsibility and in terms of paying our bills. with john boehner trying to figure out which way his caucus will both and which -- vote, he will lose his job and we will not be able to rectify the things
afghanistan. george afghanistan. george bush left office, he left a deficit of under $1 trillion. that is an obama stimulus package for one year and that was enough to hold us in iraq and afghanistan for seven years. host: let's go to a democratic caller in brooklyn, new york. caller in brooklyn, new york. caller: i think the numbers of the other caller are totally false. obama should keep his footing in this situation. the republicans say they will walk away and limit the amount of money but...
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Jul 29, 2011
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it says that, imagine that we're at war for 10 years, in afghanistan and iraq at surge levels. we assume we're going to be fighting this war for 10 more years, with over 100,000 troops in afghanistan and oh, gosh, wait, we're going to withdraw our troops in 2014. $1 trillion in savings. i've got a better idea. let's pass a bill to cover the moon with yogurt that will cost $5 trillion today. and then let's pass a bill the next day to cancel that bill. we could save $5 trillion. wait, i've got a better idea. our debt is $14 trillion. let's come up with a new plan to spend $14 trillion, then rescind it the next day and let's save $14 trillion. this stuff is fiscal fantasy. you can't make this stuff up, mr. speaker. suggesting that we're going to be in a war at these levels for 10 more years when everybody knows we've already decided not to do that, that does not get us $1.3 trillion in spending cuts. only in washington can you add up math like that. we need real spending cuts. i yield myself an additional minute to say, this is getting serious,r. speaker. very serious. we can't ke
it says that, imagine that we're at war for 10 years, in afghanistan and iraq at surge levels. we assume we're going to be fighting this war for 10 more years, with over 100,000 troops in afghanistan and oh, gosh, wait, we're going to withdraw our troops in 2014. $1 trillion in savings. i've got a better idea. let's pass a bill to cover the moon with yogurt that will cost $5 trillion today. and then let's pass a bill the next day to cancel that bill. we could save $5 trillion. wait, i've got a...
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Jul 17, 2011
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depriving the treasury of enormous amounts of money at a time when we have two wars raging abroad in afghanistan and iraq also not paid for and new entitlement programs passed in congress that is on page four, and wall street instead of being a free market was a free for all market, and that is what we're coming out of, so i am wondering, your answer to me suggests that there is no more monetary policy that is going to come forward that could, in essence, seeking faster, more robust recovery with greater jobs? >> well, as i said in my testimony, given that there is a lot of uncertainty about how the economy will lead off, we have to keep all options on the table. both for tightening and easing. we are doing that, but we are already providing an exceptional amount of accommodation, and as you know, recovery is still pretty slow. >> i want to turn to the question of the debt ceiling. that was discussed quite a bit. i find it interesting under the years of president bush, the debt ceiling was raised to a tune of about $5.40 trillion during this period of time. i did not hear the same comments then
depriving the treasury of enormous amounts of money at a time when we have two wars raging abroad in afghanistan and iraq also not paid for and new entitlement programs passed in congress that is on page four, and wall street instead of being a free market was a free for all market, and that is what we're coming out of, so i am wondering, your answer to me suggests that there is no more monetary policy that is going to come forward that could, in essence, seeking faster, more robust recovery...
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Jul 12, 2011
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very powerful figure in southern afghanistan and a very controversial one. he's the head of the provincial council, which on its own would make him the man controlling the area. both because of his connections to the president and a lot of associations -- he made things happen in kandahar province, which is the real former stronghold of the taliban. he has a lot of enemies, both among the insurgency and also among the various criminal networks that work in that area. he himself has been accused of drug ties, criminal ties, and even of being on the payroll of the cia. all things that ahmad wali karzai denies. he has a very murky reputation. it's hard to know, even though the taliban claims responsibility, what happened and who is behind it. host: how does the u.s. view him? guest: the u.s. has most recently seen him as an unsolvable problem. he has been a friend to the u.s. for a long time. because he has been someone who has been hard to bring on board with some of the programs to develop the province, to work with the military -- no one says this directly,
very powerful figure in southern afghanistan and a very controversial one. he's the head of the provincial council, which on its own would make him the man controlling the area. both because of his connections to the president and a lot of associations -- he made things happen in kandahar province, which is the real former stronghold of the taliban. he has a lot of enemies, both among the insurgency and also among the various criminal networks that work in that area. he himself has been accused...
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Jul 8, 2011
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while i think those funds are an important part of the strategy for long-term success in afghanistan, i think the highest and best use of a very small part of that money is to help our national guard and reserve combat veterans get back on their feet again. my amendment would use about 1.5% for that purpose, which i think is reasonable. in exchange for about 1.5% of what we are about to provide to help the afghans take care of themselves we can provide a 125% increase in support for those american soldiers and their families who make it all possible. i think that's a pretty good deal. finally, my amendment will not in any way delay final passage of this important passage. if adopted we move to a straight final vote on passage of this legislation. i want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their service and for their work on this bill. i think my amendment will have virtually no adverse impact on what we're trying to do for afghanistan, but it will have a huge positive impact on meeting the need of our combat veterans and their families. i hope that's something we can all
while i think those funds are an important part of the strategy for long-term success in afghanistan, i think the highest and best use of a very small part of that money is to help our national guard and reserve combat veterans get back on their feet again. my amendment would use about 1.5% for that purpose, which i think is reasonable. in exchange for about 1.5% of what we are about to provide to help the afghans take care of themselves we can provide a 125% increase in support for those...
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Jul 28, 2011
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first of all, the savings gleaned by winding down the borders and afghanistan -- te borders and afghanistan -- te war -- the wars in afghanistan, social e -- to slash security benefits or education spending. you would then count that as a savings. paul ryan, when he submitted his budget -- this is the result. any policy decision you make is a choice of how much money to spend, and that is what these decisions are. are we going to save $1 trillion because of the policy decisions of this president? i would say yes, and i encourage you to write and talk about it. they are good decisions for fiscal health. they are legitimate. they're part of any serious they're part of any serious bipartisan compromise . we have identified, in great detail, significant spending cuts in domestic spending cuts. extraordinarily difficult savings and entitlement programs that we would be willing, the president would be willing to make a case to his own party in the name of accomplishing something very big. it would fix this problem for a long time and put us on sound economic footing in the twenty first century. t
first of all, the savings gleaned by winding down the borders and afghanistan -- te borders and afghanistan -- te war -- the wars in afghanistan, social e -- to slash security benefits or education spending. you would then count that as a savings. paul ryan, when he submitted his budget -- this is the result. any policy decision you make is a choice of how much money to spend, and that is what these decisions are. are we going to save $1 trillion because of the policy decisions of this...
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Jul 13, 2011
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during its nine-year war in afghanistan. public polls are clear, americans know the cost of the war in afghanistan is unsustainable and want us to withdraw as soon as possible. when it comes to cutting back on support for the neediest americans, we can't seem to face the urgent reality that the money that we spend abroad needs to be spent here at home. the financial facts tell the story, taxpayers in my district in seattle have spent $1.1 trillion -- billion for afghanistan war to date. think about that. one city, $1.1 billion. for the same amount of money we could provide health care for 700,000 children from low-income families or put 125,000 kids in head start or health care for 150,000 more veterans. imagine how different it would be if states like wisconsin which faces a $3.6 billion budget deficit did not have to bear the cost of the war in afghanistan. so the question before us is simple, what is our priority? fighting a war with no end? or investing in the american people? the answer lies in what kind of country we a
during its nine-year war in afghanistan. public polls are clear, americans know the cost of the war in afghanistan is unsustainable and want us to withdraw as soon as possible. when it comes to cutting back on support for the neediest americans, we can't seem to face the urgent reality that the money that we spend abroad needs to be spent here at home. the financial facts tell the story, taxpayers in my district in seattle have spent $1.1 trillion -- billion for afghanistan war to date. think...
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Jul 19, 2011
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and the wars of iraq an afghanistan. congress last came together and raised the debt ceiling in february of 2010. and it dizz so -- it did so with the idea that we were working together. we understand that we're at a $14-plus trillion. there's no one who is happy with a growing debt. but many economists will tell you that economists will tell you that a deficit is sometimes important to take care of a country's people. who knows what is going on in japan right now because they need to take care of their people. they need to ensure that those who are impacted by the sunesune and earthquake and knew -- by the tsunami and the earthquake and the nuclear explosion, they need to take care of the sick people and the hurt people. but our country is not like portugal and greece. economists -- an economist we listened to two weeks ago said on the record that this country is -- that this nation is not broke. let me say it again, americans. don't be intimidated and frightened to believe that america is broke. we can solve this probl
and the wars of iraq an afghanistan. congress last came together and raised the debt ceiling in february of 2010. and it dizz so -- it did so with the idea that we were working together. we understand that we're at a $14-plus trillion. there's no one who is happy with a growing debt. but many economists will tell you that economists will tell you that a deficit is sometimes important to take care of a country's people. who knows what is going on in japan right now because they need to take care...
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Jul 9, 2011
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one of my constituents from the shenandoah valley who gave his life in afghanistan is being buried at arling nonnational cemetery later this afternoon, and i do want to be there, so i appreciate the opportunity to ask questions of the witnesses before i depart. let me start with ms. matsen. have you heard from -- i've heard from these counties as well, expressing their concern about what takes place in the national forest. it's my understanding that not to the same degree we have in the allegheny national forest where 9 % of the mineral rights are owned by private individuals and only 3% by the national forest. but sub-surface rights are primarily not owned there. but in the george washington national forest, it's my understanding from the national forest that 16% of the land, or about 180e,000 acres are owned by private entities in terms of the sub surface mineral rights. so if one were to see in those portions of the national forest, that land would be subject to your regulation, would it not, and not to the forest service's regulations? >> i will look to my expert to confirm, but a
one of my constituents from the shenandoah valley who gave his life in afghanistan is being buried at arling nonnational cemetery later this afternoon, and i do want to be there, so i appreciate the opportunity to ask questions of the witnesses before i depart. let me start with ms. matsen. have you heard from -- i've heard from these counties as well, expressing their concern about what takes place in the national forest. it's my understanding that not to the same degree we have in the...
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Jul 30, 2011
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afghanistan is not settled, mr. president, and we have to have a certain level of stability on the ground in afghanistan or we will have wasted the billions that we have already spent and the lives of our military personnel in afghanistan because it will go back to the way it was before, a center for terrorism that will come to our country or can come to our country. it did once already and we have been over there to try to wipe out al qaeda and the taliban, which has been in league with al qaeda. we have been over there losing american lives and spending american taxpayer dollars to protect our coury from another 9/11. to say that we're going to cut $1 trillion in the future over the next ten years when we aren't placing the emphasis on what are the conditions on the ground is not sound policy and it's certainly not sound national security policy. so that's illusory. and then the other parts of the cuts that i think are very hard to decipher are cutting waste, fraud and abuse, which w all want to do, but we don't h
afghanistan is not settled, mr. president, and we have to have a certain level of stability on the ground in afghanistan or we will have wasted the billions that we have already spent and the lives of our military personnel in afghanistan because it will go back to the way it was before, a center for terrorism that will come to our country or can come to our country. it did once already and we have been over there to try to wipe out al qaeda and the taliban, which has been in league with al...
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Jul 8, 2011
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and afghanistan as a whole had seen how evil the taliban was. how much damage they could do to society as they burned paintings and books and films and totally suppressed freedom in afghanistan. they knew. these people were evil but they were afraid of them but with the united states weaponry, with our guidance and intelligence training these people defeated the taliban. what i was not aware of until we met with these folks and turns out i could have been aware, i just was not, but do you the research, you find out, the bush administration convinced the northern alliance, ok, now that you've whipped the taliban you need to totally disarm. because we're the united states and we're here and we'll make sure nothing happens to you again. well, the northern alliance messed up because they trusted us and they turned in their weapons, i asked one, you turned in all your weapons? well, apparently they have some small arms, but nothing that would allow them to take on the taliban again. naturally these people were concerned because they know because they
and afghanistan as a whole had seen how evil the taliban was. how much damage they could do to society as they burned paintings and books and films and totally suppressed freedom in afghanistan. they knew. these people were evil but they were afraid of them but with the united states weaponry, with our guidance and intelligence training these people defeated the taliban. what i was not aware of until we met with these folks and turns out i could have been aware, i just was not, but do you the...
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Jul 22, 2011
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beyond afghanistan and iraq, the u.s. bases, as i said, a multitude of other strategic and institutional challenges. we must reset a stressed force, we must prepare for emerging threats, cyber attackers, nuclear proliferation, rising powers that will demand that we work towards greater transparency and better diplomacy. and we must do all we can so that we recognize that in this effort we do not have a blank check from the american people, that we will face the physical challenges that confront us, but we will do it in a way that maintains the strength of our country. based on my long experience in government and in working with budgets, i really believe that we do not have to make a choice between fiscal discipline and national security. by setting priorities based on sound strategy, based on good policy, we can focus a strong and innovative defense policy that confronts the future and deals with the threats that we will face in the future, and that focuses those resources we need at those threats of today and tomorrow.
beyond afghanistan and iraq, the u.s. bases, as i said, a multitude of other strategic and institutional challenges. we must reset a stressed force, we must prepare for emerging threats, cyber attackers, nuclear proliferation, rising powers that will demand that we work towards greater transparency and better diplomacy. and we must do all we can so that we recognize that in this effort we do not have a blank check from the american people, that we will face the physical challenges that confront...
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Jul 10, 2011
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>> we have all of these and people coming back from iraq and afghanistan. they have made incredible sacrifices. they have taken on incredible responsibilities. you see a 23-year-old leading a platoon in dangerous circumstances, making decisions, operating complex technologies. these are folks that can perform. unfortunately, a lot of these young veterans have a higher and to limit rate than people who did not serve. -- have a higher unemployment rate than people who did not serve. we want to combine a tax credit for a company that hires veterans with a campaign to have private companies step up and do the right thing and hire more veterans. in the federal government, we have made huge emphasis on ramping up our outreach to veterans and the hiring of veterans. this is been a top priority of mine. the notion that these folks who have sacrificed for our freedom and security are coming home and not able to find a job, i think that is unacceptable. >> this next question was heavily re-tweeted and voted up by our user base. this is about the debt ceiling and tax
>> we have all of these and people coming back from iraq and afghanistan. they have made incredible sacrifices. they have taken on incredible responsibilities. you see a 23-year-old leading a platoon in dangerous circumstances, making decisions, operating complex technologies. these are folks that can perform. unfortunately, a lot of these young veterans have a higher and to limit rate than people who did not serve. -- have a higher unemployment rate than people who did not serve. we want...
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Jul 31, 2011
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well, they say that the savings from winding down the wars in iraq and afghanistan don't count. specifically, they say that these savings are -- quote -- "a widely ridiculed accounting gimmick that breeds cynicism." unquote. yet all but three of the 43 senators who signed this letter voted for the ryan budget on may 25 this year. that budget counted the same drawdowns as almost identical in savings. so those savings were legitimate enough to secure their support for the ryan budget but not legitimate enough to secure their support for leader reid's debt ceiling compromise. and here we are on the precipice, and suddenly they've done a 180-degree turn. either these savings count or they don't. you can't have it both ways. so we are proposing exactly what republicans have been saying that they want. yet instead of accepting this deal, they're using what precious time we have left to push forward with their agenda, and it's not even their agenda. it's the tea party agenda. their radical agenda is a wolf in sheep's clothing. last night we voted down speaker boehner's plan which requi
well, they say that the savings from winding down the wars in iraq and afghanistan don't count. specifically, they say that these savings are -- quote -- "a widely ridiculed accounting gimmick that breeds cynicism." unquote. yet all but three of the 43 senators who signed this letter voted for the ryan budget on may 25 this year. that budget counted the same drawdowns as almost identical in savings. so those savings were legitimate enough to secure their support for the ryan budget...
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Jul 29, 2011
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every month for military operations in afghanistan alone to prop up a corrupt and incompetent karzai government. how about ending wasteful subsidies to big agriculture companies? how about asking billionaire hedge fund managers to pay the same tax rates as their secretaries? the truth is that the best way to deal with our long-term fiscal situation is to grow our economy. that means creating jobs and putting people back to work. the last election i thought was about jobs. we haven't talked about jobs at all since the new republican majority became -- came to power. that means investing in things like education and infrastructure and green technology and medical research. that's the kind of economic future the american people deserve. the boehner default plan would take us exactly in the wrong direction and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reject it. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from california has 5 1/2 minutes remaining. the gentleman is recognized. mr. dreier: mr. speak
every month for military operations in afghanistan alone to prop up a corrupt and incompetent karzai government. how about ending wasteful subsidies to big agriculture companies? how about asking billionaire hedge fund managers to pay the same tax rates as their secretaries? the truth is that the best way to deal with our long-term fiscal situation is to grow our economy. that means creating jobs and putting people back to work. the last election i thought was about jobs. we haven't talked...
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Jul 29, 2011
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it says that, imagine that we're at war for 10 years, in afghanistan and iraq at surge levels. we assume we're going to be fighting this war for 10 more years, with over 100,000 troops in afghanistan and oh, gosh, wait, we're going to withdraw our troops in 2014. $1 trillion in savings. i've got a better idea. let's pass a bill to cover the moon with yogurt that will cost $5 trillion today. and then let's pass a bill the next day to cancel that bill. we could save $5 trillion. wait, i've got a better idea. our debt is $14 trillion. let's come up with a new plan to spend $14 trillion, then rescind it the next day and let's save $14 trillion. this stuff is fiscal fantasy. you can't make this stuff up, mr. speaker. suggesting that we're going to be in a war at these levels for 10 more years when everybody knows we've already decided not to do that, that does not get us $1.3 trillion in spending cuts. only in washington can you add up math like that. we need real spending cuts. i yield myself an additional minute to say, this is getting serious, mr. speaker. very serious. we can't
it says that, imagine that we're at war for 10 years, in afghanistan and iraq at surge levels. we assume we're going to be fighting this war for 10 more years, with over 100,000 troops in afghanistan and oh, gosh, wait, we're going to withdraw our troops in 2014. $1 trillion in savings. i've got a better idea. let's pass a bill to cover the moon with yogurt that will cost $5 trillion today. and then let's pass a bill the next day to cancel that bill. we could save $5 trillion. wait, i've got a...
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Jul 29, 2011
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courtney: starting with iraq and afghanistan wars, two wars which, again, lots of debate about whether it was in our national interest, but in any case what is not debatable is that we never paid for a penny of either one of those conflicts. the bush tax cuts, $1.8 trillion . nondefense discretionary spending, $608 billion. tarp, the wall street bailout, which a lot of people forget occurred under the last administration, a medicare drug benefit which was passed in 2005 which was never paid for, not a nickel of that benefit was ever paid for. we were either offsetting revenue or other -- with either offsetting revenue or other spending reductions. and the 2008 stimulus bill which the bush administration had presented, a lot of people don't remember the check they got sent during that time for, again, none of those expenditures were paid for and many of those expenditures such as the bush tax cuts and the iraq and afghanistan war are still recurring expenses which are still accumulating bills and debts which this country is obligated for. when the obama administration took office in jan
courtney: starting with iraq and afghanistan wars, two wars which, again, lots of debate about whether it was in our national interest, but in any case what is not debatable is that we never paid for a penny of either one of those conflicts. the bush tax cuts, $1.8 trillion . nondefense discretionary spending, $608 billion. tarp, the wall street bailout, which a lot of people forget occurred under the last administration, a medicare drug benefit which was passed in 2005 which was never paid...
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Jul 10, 2011
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fighters into this area, the neighborhoods around mogadishu are referenced by locals there as "little afghanistan." a year ago, al-shabaab conducted the first attacks actually outside of somalia. they killed 76 people, including one american in you going to -- in uganda. there is growing concern that al-shabaab leaders are striving to strike targets not just beyond somalia, but beyond africa. a european plot was recently uncovered. it was in the works and it was uncovered. links between al-shabaab and al- qaeda in the arabian peninsula, the most active of all of the outcry that franchisees -- al qaeda franchises, are becoming more and more clear. they are working together on training. they are working together on tactics. the bomb-making capability that al qaeda has, the expertise that they have, is being combined recruits.abaab's they frequently have western passports. many of them have u.s. passports. this is quite a deadly combination. that is why, last month, director panetta called al- shabaab's threat to the homeland "significant and on the rise." u.s. forces have gone on the offensive, of
fighters into this area, the neighborhoods around mogadishu are referenced by locals there as "little afghanistan." a year ago, al-shabaab conducted the first attacks actually outside of somalia. they killed 76 people, including one american in you going to -- in uganda. there is growing concern that al-shabaab leaders are striving to strike targets not just beyond somalia, but beyond africa. a european plot was recently uncovered. it was in the works and it was uncovered. links...
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Jul 19, 2011
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it cut social programs, would get us out of iraq and afghanistan, it would take a serious look out of social security and medicare and in many cases contributing to this deficit. and it would say that those who benefit from ethanol subsidies and oil company tax breaks, the wealthiest people in this country would have to pay a little bit more to pay their fair share. something like that is what should be on the floor here this afternoon because it can pass, the president can sign it and it can solve the fiscal problems of this country or take us in the right direction. but we don't have something like that. instead we have a plan that says the following and puts it in the constitution, the guy who runs an ethanol company who gets massive public subsidies can make profits is completely left alone. he doesn't have to do anything. but for the woman who cleans his office at night is going to have to pay more to go to college, more for health care for herself, her children and her parents and more for just about anything she wants in her life. there's something wrong with that picture. sacr
it cut social programs, would get us out of iraq and afghanistan, it would take a serious look out of social security and medicare and in many cases contributing to this deficit. and it would say that those who benefit from ethanol subsidies and oil company tax breaks, the wealthiest people in this country would have to pay a little bit more to pay their fair share. something like that is what should be on the floor here this afternoon because it can pass, the president can sign it and it can...
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Jul 31, 2011
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speaker, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is in afghanistan and he was asked whether soldiers will get their checks next week. how can you allow the soldiers to even wonder whether they will get paid? >> senator mcconnell and higher months -- both confident that we can come to an agreement with the white house and in this impasse. -- end this impasse. >> we could have had this bill finished early this past week. there was a bipartisan agreement between myself and the senate leaders to move the underlying bill that will be in moving to the house yesterday. the president, all he had to do was say yes and that milk -- that bill would have move quickly through both the house and senate. so we have wasted a week we did not need to waste. now we have been driven into this call the second it is time for the president to decide how we are going to get out of it. >> what gives you confidence? >> in spite of our differences, i think we are dealing with a reasonable, responsible people who want this crisis to end as quickly as possible and i am confident that we will. >> let me just that
speaker, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is in afghanistan and he was asked whether soldiers will get their checks next week. how can you allow the soldiers to even wonder whether they will get paid? >> senator mcconnell and higher months -- both confident that we can come to an agreement with the white house and in this impasse. -- end this impasse. >> we could have had this bill finished early this past week. there was a bipartisan agreement between myself and the senate...
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Jul 28, 2011
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right now we borrow $10 billion every month for military operations in afghanistan alone to prop up a corrupt and incompetent karzai government. how about ending wasteful subsidies to big agriculture companies? how about asking billionaire hedge fund managers to pay the same tax rates as their secretaries? the truth is that the best way to deal with our long-term fiscal situation is to grow our economy. that means creating jobs and putting people back to work. the last election i thought was about jobs. we haven't talked about jobs at all since the new republican majority became -- came to power. that means investing in things like education and infrastructure and green technology and medical research. that's the kind of economic future the american people deserve. the boehner default plan would take us exactly in the wrong direction and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reject it. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from california has 5 1/2 minutes remaining. the gentleman is re
right now we borrow $10 billion every month for military operations in afghanistan alone to prop up a corrupt and incompetent karzai government. how about ending wasteful subsidies to big agriculture companies? how about asking billionaire hedge fund managers to pay the same tax rates as their secretaries? the truth is that the best way to deal with our long-term fiscal situation is to grow our economy. that means creating jobs and putting people back to work. the last election i thought was...